UT: Hunters shooting toward houses

GENOLA, Utah County — Pheasant hunting has been off limits in Genola
recently, but that may change with the upcoming season.

The rural, south Utah County town has no gun restrictions.

"They still come," town public works director Phil Harold said of the
pheasant hunters.

And when they come, hunters disregard the property rights of residents by
trampling their property, shooting toward houses and ignoring no trespassing
signs, Harold said.

Pheasant hunting starts the first Saturday in November and runs three
weeks. But with Harold's proposal, it will last just three days and require
permits from the town. Regulating the hunt in the rural community would
allow the town to build up the bird numbers, he said.

No trespassing signs still would be posted on some properties so the
landowners can hunt their own spreads, Harold said.

Under the proposal, the town would regulate the hunt and sell permits,
likely for less than $30 each. Town leaders would require hunters to clip
the tags to their hats for easy identification.

Meanwhile, Harold said he'd like to see the town acquire seeds to plant
and provide food for the birds.

"It's always been a good area (for hunting)," he said. "This is probably
our best way to build up the bird population.".

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